title: Retention in methadone maintenance treatment in mainland China, 2004-2012: a literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) was implemented in mainland China since 2004. Numerous individual studies have investigated MMT retention but the overview still remains unclear. The aim of the study was to review MMT retention rates and predicting factors in mainland China during 2004-2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chinese and English databases of literature were searched for studies reporting on retention rates and predicting factors in non-transfer MMT patients of fixed-site clinics in mainland China (2004-2012). Qualitative methods were used to synthesize the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen studies were eligible for review, with sample size ranging from 29 to 3758. Retention rates varied between 30.0% at 6 months in Shanghai and 70.3% at 12 months in Xi'an. Predicting factors were non-treatment including sociodemographics (n=14), support system and social function (n=9), economic status (n=2) and psychological status (n=1), and treatment-related including drug use (n=15), methadone use (n=12), MMT clinics (n=9), MMT participation (n=7), awareness on MMT (n=5) and HIV serostatus (n=3). Methadone dose (n=12) and age (n=7) were the first two important specific factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In mainland China, MMT retention rates are heterogeneous and relatively lower, and predicting factors mainly focus on objective aspects. Future work should further explore subjective predicting factors regarding MMT retention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, No.76 Yanta Western Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710061, China.
authors.forename: Kaina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Guihua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhuang
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002681:China; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone
keywords: China; Methadone maintenance treatment; Retention